There is no practice so capable of imitation as that of calling one another by the Christian name.

It is just like that of the monkeys all cleaning their teeth along the banks of the Amazon with pieces of stick, because they saw Professor Agassiz setting them an example one fine morning, when engaged on his toilet in company with a tooth-brush.

You can't help yourself: you must bow to the custom and follow suit.
In this instance, there was Miss Pimpernell, always addressing _her_ as "Min," and _me_ as "Frank." The Dasher girls and others soon learnt to do the same.

What more likely than that we ourselves should fall into a similar friendly system?
It was only reasonable; and a result which even a less alert person than yourself would have looked for.

At all events, neither of us meant any harm by it; and I am willing to "take my affidavit" to that effect any day you please to name, in any Court of Justice you may appoint.
Notwithstanding the intimate footing that now existed between Min and myself, the fact of my non-acquaintance with her mother, annoyed me extremely.